Strong winds from a far-off hurricane fueled the wildfires in the city of Lahaina, the island’s primary tourist attraction, resulting in the fatalities Authorities report that 36 people have died as swift-moving wildfires ravage the Hawaiian island of Maui. The conflagration is one of numerous on-going fires that have completely destroyed entire neighbourhoods.
A state of emergency has been issued, forcing thousands of people to leave their homes. There is a significant search and rescue effort underway, but some people are still missing.
The Fires Starting
In Lahaina, which dates back to the 1700s and has long been a popular tourist destination, the fire left behind burned-out automobiles on once-busy streets and burning piles of wreckage where ancient structures had once stood. On Wednesday, firefighters battled fires in many locations on the island, which drove some parents and kids to jump into the water.
No other information was provided, however a statement released by Maui County late on Wednesday indicated that at least 36 people had passed away. Numerous individuals were hurt, and authorities earlier reported that 271 structures had been damaged or destroyed. At least 85 people were killed by the 2018 Camp Fire in California, which also almost destroyed the town of Paradise.
Search and Rescue
Teams of search and rescue workers are dispersed around the devastated areas in search of survivors. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency’s director of communications, Adam Weintraub, said
Weintraub stated that “these were large and fast-moving fires, and it’s only recently that we’ve started to get our arms around them and contain them” in response to the worry that there would be more fatalities. We therefore have high hopes but are also ready for the worst.
Shelters and Facilities
On Maui, five evacuation shelters have opened, and officials have already said that they are “overrun” with people. Tourists have been told to avoid the island, which is a well-liked vacation spot.
With only one main road passable, the western portion of the island, which is the second-largest in the Hawaiian chain, was nearly completely cut off.
